06 May Deafblind man to cycle 20km to raise money for charity
A local deafblind man is getting set to cycle 20km on 5th May to raise £1,000 for Deafblind UK.
Lee who is 41 is from Chelmsford and has both sight and hearing loss. He wants to show the world just how important the charity’s support is to him, so he set himself the challenge to raise £1,000 to pay for other local deafblind people enjoy events and activities, like cycling.
Lee will be completing his challenge on a tandem bike, which has been kindly loaned by Charlotte’s Tandems, along with his support worker, Paul. The pair will complete 50 laps of the 400 meter track at The Chelmsford Sports and Athletics Centre on 5th May.
Paul said: “Lee and I wanted to do a tandem bike ride because it shows just what people can do when they have the right support. Deafblindness makes things difficult and this is the perfect way to demonstrate how we can all assist people with a dual sensory loss; to empower them to achieve their full potential with the right support.”
Paul said: “Deafblind UK social groups are a lifeline for people like Lee who have a dual sensory loss, helping to build their confidence and friendships as well as reducing isolation.”
Deafblind UK supports people across Essex (and the rest of England) who are living with sight and hearing loss. Lee is a regular member of the charity’s Chelmsford social group and will be cheered on by his friends from the group.
Lindsey Barrell, from Deafblind UK said: “Deafblindness is a combined sight and hearing loss that effects your mobility, communication and access to information. It affects people in so many different ways, from having to make small adjustments at home, to being fully reliant on other people.
“Living with deafblindness can turn everyday activities into a huge challenge. Many people rely on physical contact to do the most basic things, like communicate or go for a walk. It can make life really difficult, so, for Lee to ride 20km in one day is really impressive.
“It’s always an honour when anyone wants to fundraise for us, but even more so when it’s someone who we support. We are extremely grateful to Lee for all his efforts!”
To sponsor Lee on his challenge quest, visit: https://deafblind.enthuse.com/pf/lee-paul-s-tandem-ride-challenge-077c3
